In this conversation, I speak with Christine Gadsby, Head of Product Security Operations Team at BlackBerry.

We talk about:

The Role of AI in Cybersecurity:

AI's real advancements, practical applications, and associated challenges, moving beyond the hype.

Enhancing Incident Response and Threat Hunting

Christine highlights AI's significant impact on enhancing incident response and threat hunting, how AI quickly analyzes vast data to identify Indicators of Compromise (IoCs), automates routine tasks, and improves decision-making with actionable insights.

The Evolution of Blackberry in Cybersecurity

Christine discusses Blackberry's shift from mobile devices to cybersecurity, emphasizing their focus on highly regulated environment and how the acquisition of Silence brought advanced AI capabilities, enhancing their security solutions.

Among other topics.

Intro (00:00:00)
AI in Cybersecurity: Hype or Reality? (00:00:06)
Incident Response and Threat Hunting (00:01:12)
Automation in Security Programs (00:02:08)
Industry-Specific AI Needs (00:03:20)
AI's Role in Regulated Environments (00:04:23)
Blackberry's AI Integration (00:04:50)
Perceptions of Blackberry's Evolution (00:06:51)
Trust in Vendor Relationships (00:09:11)
AI's Potential in Monitoring (00:11:12)
Challenges of Staffing in Cybersecurity (00:13:18)
Staff Turnover in Cybersecurity (00:13:54)
Burnout and Job Satisfaction (00:14:18)
Hiring Challenges in Security (00:15:17)
Confusion in Cyber Job Market (00:16:10)
Job Changes Among Cyber Leaders (00:17:10)
Outsourcing Security Functions (00:18:09)
Pressure from Boards (00:18:57)
Evolving Security Needs (00:19:40)
Human Element in Cybersecurity (00:20:46)
Talent Pipeline Issues (00:21:40)
Challenges of Smaller Companies (00:22:32)
Job Satisfaction and Workload (00:24:03)
Pressure Cooker Environment (00:24:43)
Crypto Attacks Resurgence (00:26:16)
Crypto Mining Discussion (00:26:33)
APT 32 Insights (00:27:22)
Employee Training Importance (00:28:41)
Indicators of Crypto Mining (00:29:45)
Detection Challenges (00:30:30)
Normal System Behavior (00:32:13)
Looking Ahead to 2025 (00:32:44)
*Supply Chain Pressures (00:35:08)
Arms Race in Security (00:35:27)
Liability Hot Potato (00:36:27)
Managed Services Growth (00:36:44)
Cyber Insurance Trends (00:37:52)
CISO Evolution (00:39:10)
The Importance of Trust in Supply Chain (00:39:56)
Predictions for Cybersecurity Roles (00:40:46)
Following Blackberry's Work (00:41:00)
Networking and Future Conversations (00:41:05)
Conclusion (00:41:37)

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The O'Reilly Update. October 15, 2025